adulterated

Just yesterday as I spoke to younger brother I realized a missing link in our conversation, not that our thoughts have not been conflicting before, but this time it was different.


We began with our usual talks, when I pointedly reminded him of the fact that he was not concentrating on his studies, he retorted back questioning as to when was the last time we talked about his interests. Taken aback by this remark, I immediately shifted the topic to his interests and realized with a shock of course that my brother had developed an interest of “buying new shoes”. For a moment I held my breath on the phone expecting a giggle from the other side, preparing myself for the plethora of laughter, but my idea of joke was a serious affair for my brother.

I chided, after the silence had evaded… “Buying shoes is an interest??? Since when did such things start qualifying for interests, hobbies?” and tart came an excited reply…” not just buying shoes, I like dressing up my clothes according to that too…”! And then it struck me, the teenage blues, red, or green….rather hues were circling all over my darling self admiring brother. At the age of 16 +, he just has too many things to do, dance is important, meeting friends cant be done without, shopping, playing in the fields, just casually passing time, with nothing in the world to worry about! Sigh…

And then that missing link fit, at an age difference of 6 yrs, I seem to have moved on to the old generation. Worrying about profession, money, time, studies…after all aren’t other things as important too?? But as they say, as you pass that particular age, they charms of it die along…and you transform into another person. I have transformed to a young adult, still being chided by my father as to be more responsible, be aware about my monetary assets , meet people, socialize in a proper way…so on and so forth!

Where does the list end, the line blur?
When do you start shedding your skin, when do you start transforming from one stage to another?
When does one actually become an adult?